Help Us Update Putney’s History
It’s now been nearly 70 years since the Fortnightly Club published a history of Putney for its Bicentennial. In 1953 there was no official way to name a location other than by the name of the property owner. As there are fewer and fewer people around who knew those residents of yore, we hope to identify the places mentioned in 1953 by the current E911 addresses.
Any help or hints you can give us are most appreciated. Please email to putneyhistory@gmail.com or write to us at PO Box 260, Putney VT 05346.
Identifications Needed!
We’re still trying to identify many of these locations – can you help? Email us at putneyhistory@gmail.com
1. Land of George Stockwell – identified – see below
2. Jack Johnson House in Dummerston
3. South of Henry W. Frost (locations of Philip Alexander and Joshua Hyde in 1762)
4. Joseph W. Palan (South of Great Bridge)
5. George Hamilton farm “on the street”/Westminster West Road (Location of Joshua Parker 1764-1765) – identified see below
6. Near Henry Tanner “on the street”/Westminster West Road (Location of Henry Walter 1764-1765)
7. Ben Wood (location of Jonas or James Cummings in 1764)
8. John P. Scott (opposite of location of Noah Sabin in 1768) – identified see below
9. Philip B. Chase (opposite location of Amos Haile in 1768
10. Meadow of Rev. John Currier (location of Leonard Spaulding in 1764)
11. John Houghton (111 River Road South?)
12. West Hill 10 rods southwest of Mrs. Nellie Page’s house (location of John Butler in 1768)
13. Putney School Store & Inn (location of Michael Law in 1768) – identified see below
14. In mowing 50 rods east of Mrs. McClure Johnson’s house (location of Dennis Locklin in 1768)
15. Simeon Reed place (present location south of Edwin Gray)
16. Near Cooper’s
17. Theodore Banning (location of stone pig pen)
18. Allen house (now owned by Putney School) – identified see below
19. The Wheat Tavern on West Hill – identified see below
20. Northwest of Garland’s house (location of lot 6 in 9th range reserved for first public schoolmaster)
21. Frost pasture (part of lot 6 in range 11 set off for first settled minister)
22. George Garland’s home & farm210 West Hill Road
23. Mary Leach (of Bellows Falls) pasture on Putney Mtn.
24. Reuben Blood (20 acres of lease land of First Congregational Church)
25. Harold Rhoades (20 acres of lease land of First Congregational Church)
Identified!
1 Land of George Stockwell: This has been identified by Barry Stockwell, who writes, “My dad (Raymond) and my uncle (Earl) inherited my grandfather’s (George’s) land on Cemetery and Warden Roads in East Putney, which he bought a little over 100 years ago. My brother (Bruce) and I inherited, and live on, my dad’s land on Cemetery Road, and Earl sold off building lots further out Cemetery and up Warden Road.”
5 George Hamilton farm “on the street”/Westminster West Road (Location of Joshua Parker 1764-1765): has been identified as 378 Westminster Road, Cross Creek Farm
8 John P. Scott (opposite of location of Noah Sabin in 1768): Noah Sabin’s House (346 Westminster Road) Became the Braley Farm on Westminster Road opposite Hickory Ridge intersection The house roughly opposite is quite old and may be Scott – 21 Hickory Ridge Road South
13 Putney School Store & Inn (location of Michael Law in 1768): Lyssa Papazian writes: Putney School’s Lower Farm [can’t get the 911 number off maps but it is on Houghton Brook Road just below the intersection with Watt Pond Road] (farmstead with many buildings including an outbuilding/former sugar house that was used as a store and the main house which was used as an Inn. There’s also the Annex (attached to the cape) which is used as a hostel. This is the Houghton farm where the Holstein Friesian Assoc started. wrote some history on this: “In 1936, the main house was turned into an Inn by the Putney School as a commercial venture and place to accommodate guests. The adjoining cape became the kitchen and service quarters
for the Inn staff complete with the addition of “in and “out” doors from the dining room. The Inn operated until 1959 and then the house became faculty housing which is still the case today.”
18. Allen house (now owned by Putney School): “Allen House” on West Hill Road – we need to get the 911 Address (2nd house on right after intersection with Houghton Brook heading towards Dummerston)
19. The Wheat Tavern on West Hill: 119 Cory Hill